Medical care clinic hails milestone

Volunteers, from left, David Gagné, in kitchen, who sets up for the clinic, medical student Rebecca Compton of Worcester, Dr. Joseph DeFranza of Princeton and Justin Stedman of Littleton.

WORCESTER — One by one, they are called into curtained alcoves to speak with a health care provider. Predominantly young and middle-aged adults, their concerns include high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory problems.

Since 1994, a group of volunteers has come to their aid Monday evenings in the basement of Epworth United Methodist Church on Salisbury Street. Equipped with stethoscopes and clipboards, the volunteers offer free medical care to anyone in need.

"Our mission has been to offer health care to those who had a problem getting it, in the manner which we ask the least amount of questions," co-founder Ron Ramsay said recently during a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the clinic. The ceremony, held during regular clinic hours, was attended by about 30 past and present volunteers from all over New England, and their families.

Mr. Ramsay teamed up in the early 1990s with Dr. Paul Hart, then a family medicine doctor in Sterling, when Dr. Hart noticed an increasing number of his patients struggling without health insurance.

The pair approached several churches with the idea of holding medical consultations one night a week. Epworth United Methodist Church gave them the green light, with the stipulation that the clinic set up and take down their own folding chairs.

"In 1994, we were the first free clinic in the area," said the Rev. Barry Wood, retired pastor of the church, who now lives in Maine. "We started with one secretary, one doctor and a pot of coffee. We had people lying on the floor who couldn't afford to go to the emergency room. There were nights when this room was filled with 60 to 70 people. But by that time we had social workers, more doctors, and nurses to help out."

As the number of volunteers grew, the clinic became a nonprofit organization called the Worcester Evening Free Medical Service Program. Through grants from District 33A Lions Clubs, Dr. Hart and Mr. Ramsay initiated a weekly hearing and vision clinic at nearby Wesley United Methodist Church on Main Street.

Word of the clinic spread, and it became the model for free clinics around the state. "They sent their volunteers here to train, learn our system, and copy our forms," said Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Ramsay acknowledged the medical professionals who volunteer their time. One is Valerie Valant, a first-year medical student at University of Massachusetts Medical School.

At the clinic, she works under the supervision of a licensed physician to take vitals, make basic treatment plans, and conduct physicals, interviews and assessments. Every week, there are at least two, and sometimes up to six, medical students donating their time. She now serves as the primary student volunteer coordinator.

"Working in the clinic reminds me that I actually know this stuff outside the classroom," said Ms. Valant. "On Tuesday mornings I go to class and look forward to learning about fungal infections because maybe that's what I saw the night before at Epworth."

Besides her fellow UMass students, Ms. Valant points out pharmacy students from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, and pre-med undergraduates from local universities, have also helped at the clinic. Volunteer physicians staff the program, often adding three hours to already long work days.

Dr. Hart retired from practice in 2006, and Dr. James Ledwith now serves as medical director.

"I had set up a free clinic back in Virginia in the mid-2000s, but just as it started getting off the ground I moved to Massachusetts to take a position (with UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospital) in Fitchburg," said Dr. Ledwith. "I felt guilty about abandoning my clinic, but Epworth gave me a second chance to run this one."

A volunteer noted that Dr. Ledwith actually has no ties to the community — he lives in Franklin, works in Fitchburg, and drives to Worcester after work on Mondays to volunteer.

Despite the improving economy, Dr. Ledwith said the number of patients seeking services is not declining.

The clinic helped about 28,000 visitors from 1994 to 2010, the last year for which an estimate was available. Both the medical and the eye and ear clinic operate on a combined annual budget of about $30,000.

At the anniversary celebration, one of the many volunteers in attendance was Bob Ellison of Grafton, now 91, who set up chairs every week from 1994 to 2008. Another was optician Diane Matuck, who helps oversee the Wesley Eye and Ear Clinic. Dr. Hart, who is currently on medical mission to Cambodia, sent a letter of appreciation to all the volunteers past and present. One he named in particular was Jennifer MacDonald, a UMass medical student and longtime volunteer, who spearheaded the effort to unify all of the local free medical programs into the Worcester Free Clinic Coalition.

Throughout the ceremony, the clinic remained open, bustling with medical personnel and clients seeking care. About a dozen people waited in the rows of folding chairs, including two families with young children and a few middle aged men. On the fringe, an unshaven man in a dirty blue parka clutched his number and looked about nervously.

One family was present for a routine physical for their 4-year-old daughter. "The preschool said we needed a physical, but the earliest our PCP could see us was next week," said Ivy of Leicester, the girl's mother, who requested that her last name not be used. "They weren't going to let her come back without the paperwork, and I couldn't keep her home for all that time." Ivy has insurance and says this is her first time at the clinic. "A woman in the school office gave me the phone number for here."

Sitting nearby is Phil, a self-employed contractor from "south of Worcester." He was waiting for the results of lab tests. Phil, who asked his last name not be used, has been coming to the clinic since last spring. "I found out about the program when I did a job in the building next door (on Salisbury Street)." This is his fifth visit here; the last time was to get a prescription refilled. "It's pretty amazing ... to go to a regular doctor to get four prescriptions refilled would cost $150, and then I can come here and get them for $10 or less with no health insurance," he said.

Phil is single with no children. He filled out paperwork for Commonwealth Care with the help of one of the volunteer health insurance counselors who sets up a table during regular clinic hours. Just recently he learned that he was approved. "They are nice people here, they try to do everything they can," he said.

On this night, once the speeches concluded, the chairs put away and the pastry table sampled, Dr. Ledwith was still in discussions with the unshaven man who had been sitting on the fringe.

"I'm just going to drive him over to UMass Memorial for some tests," Dr. Ledwith said, starting to put on his coat. He and his patient walked out to the parking lot and to the doctor's sedan, wrapping up another evening of caring.

For more information on the Worcester Evening Free Medical Program at Epworth and other local free medical programs, including ways to volunteer or donate, see www.worcesterfreeclinics.org